Kung Fu movies are a unique genre of action film with huge international appeal. Also known as wushu in China where this art form originated, the flicks represent a fascinating aspect of that country\’s culture and history. Following below are some interesting bits of information pertaining to this fascinating style of action movie since it\’s early days.

The very first movie resembling a modern martial arts flick was made in China in 1928. And given that it takes about 27 hours to watch from beginning to end, it was shown in 8 serial episodes. During the 1970\’s however, this type of movie spread from Hong Kong, the source of modern kung fu flicks, to the international community.

The original wushu films featured a literary tradition invoking elements of the mysterious and sword-fighting. This evolved into more mundane stories with lots of unarmed combat. Conventionally its heroes were common folk that were nevertheless chivalrous and sided with the oppressed and the poor, fighting to avenge or defend the rights of the ordinary population.

Today most if not all the actors and actresses are genuine martial artists, and the authentic fighting skills on display appeal to audiences all over the globe. Keeping track with the shifting tastes of cinema goers the films have evolved to the point of showcasing stylized yet breathtaking acrobatic moves, including the more coarser urban type of gangster motif. The use of comedy, near life-threatening stunts and contemporary urban backgrounds have helped to boost it\’s appeal in the popular imagination.

It didn\’t take Western film makers long to realize the potential of these movies and it\’s appeal to foreign audiences. Especially when gorgeous Asian female actresses with serious martial arts skills began playing leading roles it propelled the genre to new levels of popularity. Many Hollywood movie stars became involved and even influenced lots of young cinema goers to take up training in the martial arts.

It\’s perhaps typical of this sort of flick to feature fight scenes involving many people. This naturally makes it very challenging to shoot, hence the need for lots of equipment and having highly skilled martial arts actors on board. And even though the scenes are choreographed and rehearsed many times before the actual filming starts, it nevertheless requires tremendous skills to pull off the moves which awe cinema audiences.

Traditionally directors and producers paid scant attention to narrative ploys common to mainstream storytelling. Plots were generally means to showcase combat moves. And the same could be said about character development, or it\’s lack thereof. But the modern versions have caught up and plot and character are as much a consideration as the fighting sequences.

Modern technology has helped to elevate the status of kung fu movies to new heights of film making. Though some fans may find the use of computer generated special effects distracting to the authenticity of older flicks, it still fascinates the fans to no end. Hopefully these bits of information help to clarify why these films continue to be global hits today.

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